Ice and snow melter.



PATENTED PEB. 24, 1903.

3 SHEETS-*SHEET 1- Y @tbm/nut E. L. TSGHANTRB. IGEAN'D SNOW MELTER.

APPLIOATION FILED .TUNE 11, 1902.

F0 MODEL.

No. 721,479. -"PATBNTED PEB.-v4 24, 190s.

" (E. L. TSGHANTRB.

10E AND SNOW MBLTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1902.

y 'K0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET .'ZA

E-rQeSTLchmr-e.

UNITED STATT-3s PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST L. TSOHANTRE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ICE AND SNOW M'LTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,479, dated February 24, 1903.

Application filed June 1l, 1902.

To @ZZ whom i mayyconccrn.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST L. TscHANTRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ice and Snow Melters, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to ice and snow melters; and one of the objects thereof is to provide a simple and efficient device for the purpose which will be portable and easily moved over an area, completely melting the' frozen ground. Y Y

Other objects, as well as the novel details of construction, will be clearly described hereinafter, reference being had to the'V accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a snowmelter constructed in accordance with myin- Vention. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view taken immediately in rear of theY scraper. Fig. 3 is a top plan. view of the device. Fig. Il is a transverse sectional view looking rearward and taken immediately in front of the furnace. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the melter; and Fig. 6 isy a transverse sectional view through the vehicle-body, the rake being shown in detail. The reference-numeral 1 designates the vehiclebody,which is substantially rectangular and supported by wheels 2 and 2a at one end and 3 and 3a at the opposite end. On the body 1 and positioned preferably near the front is a tank 4, designed to carry any of the hydrocarbon oils and empty into the adjacent mixing-vat 5, so as to impregnato or saturate thefuel, whereby a perfect combustionjwill take place in the furnace, to be referred to hereinafter. i

The referencenumeral 6 designates the fuel-box, which is positioned on the body 1, so as to be within convenient reach ofthe driver, who may remove a sufficient amount of fuel from time to time and place it in the vat 5.

The furnace (designated by the referencenumeral '7) is attached to the rear of the vehicle and comprises a shell closed on the top, ends, and sides, said' shell being in two sections, the rear section being adaptedtofold upon the front section for ease in transportation, as will be explained hereinafter. The

front section of the furnace is provided with Serial No. 111,175. (No model.)

vertically-adjustable runners S, which are attached to the sides thereof by bolts 9, fitting the grate is supported by the front vertical .Wall of the furnace, which is provided with hinged doors 13 in series to admit of the granular fuel and flared-mouthed pipes 14 for-the reception of liquid fuel. Immediately below the furnace-doors are the ash-pit doors 15 to admit araker to manipulate the material on the grate andipermit of the removal of the ashes. It will be noticed `,that the front sec` tionof the'furnace isprovided with a curved top which extends down toward the ground rearwardly until its end is of approximately the same size as the rear section hinged thereto and which comprises a hollow rectangular shell having its rear end normally closed, but

adapted to be opened by a hinged door 16, op.- erated by a lever 16a, engaging a segmental rack 16h, secured to the side of the rear section.

The referencenumeral 17 designates a hinged front for the furnace, which isl carried by the body 1, to the under side of which itis secured, and the door 17 may be manipulated by the driver through the medium of a flexible connection 18, connected, to the door and projecting through an opening in the vehiclebody. Y

Positioned intermediate the ends of the body 1 and secured to the under side thereof is a vertically-adjustable scraper or leveler 19, from the ends of which project two upwardly-extending rods 20 and 2l, telescoping in sleeves 22 and 23, secured tothe under side of the body l. This leveler maybe adjusted to the desired height by a yperforated rod 24, carried thereby, and which is adapted to be engaged with a brace 25 onthe top yof the body, and which is also perforated to receiveapin 26. y Immediatelyin rear' of the leveler is a rake '27, which is alsove'rtically adjustable in a manner similar to the leveler andis designed to rake over the snow before it is acted on by the Aheat inv the furnace.

IOO

In using the invention the leveler will pass over the snow and ice and reduce any inequalities of the surface. The raker in passing over the surface immediately thereafter will in a measure reduce lumps and large pieces of snow and prepare the surface to be acted upon by the furnace. Of course it will be understood that the furnace will have been previously heated, and as the lower portion of the furnace covers a considerable area the excessive heat caused by the hydrocarbon fuel will reduce the Solid to a liquid. The heat may beincreased or diminished by pouring on more oil through the funnels in the front of the furnace, and the ash-pit doors may be operated as dampers to increase or diminish the draft, so as to regulate the consumption of the fuel.

It will thus be apparent that a device constructed in accordance with my invention will readily perform the service for which it is intended and will be inexpensive, strong, and durable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A snoW-melter comprising a vehicle, a furnace carried thereby and composed of two sections, the front section being supported by the rear axle of the vehicle and provided with vertically-adjustable runners which rest upon the ground, the other section of the furnace being secured to the first-named section.

2. In a snow-melter, the combination with a vehicle a fuel-box carried thereby, an oiltank also carried by the vehicle, a mixingvat arranged adjacent the oil-tank and a furnace secured tothe rear of the vehicle for the purpose specified.

3. In a snoW-melter, the combination with a vehicle and a furnace secured thereto, said furnace comprising two sections adapted to rest upon the ground, one of the sections be ing adapted to be swung upon the other section and out of contact with the ground, a lire-box arranged in the furnace, of doors adjacent the fire-box, and means alternating with said doors and positioned between the same for introducing liquid fuel into the rebox.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ERNEST L. TSOIIANTRE. Witnesses:

W. I. Dnv, A. C. SMITH. 

